BEST & BRIGHTEST 2001/ 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 20, 2001

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

They're in every high school. Sometimes they're highly visible; other times they're behind the scenes. But they're there - they always have been.

They're those extraordinary high school seniors who seem to do it all. They are active in the community, volunteering their time to myriad causes. They are the doers at their schools. Their lists of awards and achievements fill volumes. On top of that, they have over- the-top grades.

This year the Best & Brightest program celebrates its 10th anniversary. A number of the alumni from past years have sent updates about where they are and what they're doing today. Most are just as focused and driven as they were in high school. They're achieving, volunteering, adventuring, traveling, always learning.

There are 25 Best & Brightest each year. The Class of 2001 is featured in this special section today.

Gazette Vice President and Associate Publisher Jon Stepleton, who was the newspaper's editor 10 years ago, championed the creation of this public recognition program, a tradition born out of tragedy. In September 1991, a young soldier died, beaten to death by a group of young people in downtown Colorado Springs. It was just another event in a violent season of crime involving teens. The negative stories dominated headlines and local conversations.

Stepleton shared the sentiment that there was something very important missing in all this coverage of teens - the story of those who succeeded. He said: "My sense was there were a lot of young kids out there doing so many great things in the community and in school. We needed to do something to recognize them, to make the whole community more aware of them."

During the past 10 years, the community has had the opportunity to meet 250 of those teen successes. Sharing their stories remains as important as ever today.

Alumni Tobey Cho puts it this way: "The award pushed me to believe in myself more. And kids truly need to believe in themselves to reach their potential."

BEST & BRIGHTEST CLASS OF 2001

Mim Ari, Palmer

Alison Borden, Palmer

Courtney Butler, Palmer

Matt Calvin, Cheyenne Mountain

Sean Choi, Wasson

Heather Fink, Pine Creek

Zachary Frank, Palmer

Kimberly G. Gordon, Big Sandy

Michaela Hoffman, Palmer

J. Daniel Jensen, Pine Creek

Kimberly R. King, Rampart

Heather Lambert, Pine Creek

Will Lamborn, Rampart

Peter Michael Maiurro, Fountain-FortCarson

Tenise N. McGhee, Sierra

Ryan William McKeel, Palmer (His sister, Laurel, was Best & Brightest Class of 1998)

Jennifer Moe, Palmer

Layla Oesper, Pine Creek

Marie Pylypczuk, Fountain-FortCarson

Matthew John Rioth, Air Academy

Candice Roberts, Sierra

Jessica Shull, Coronado (Her sister, Heather, was Best & Brightest Class of 2000)

Luke Robert Stover, Fountain-Fort Carson

Susanna Noelle Wolf, Doherty

Christina Zarza, Doherty

HONORABLE MENTION

Named as Honorable Mention in the Best & Brightest Class of 2001 were:

Brian Anderson, Harrison

John Pearce Bois, Cheyenne Mountain

Jeff Burkeen, Air Academy

Robert Deland, Falcon

Andrea Paz Donnelly, Colorado Springs School

Ryan Scott Faulconer, Cheyenne Mountain

Margaret Foy, Air Academy

Micah Gallagher, Manitou Springs

Rebecca Hoerl, Cheyenne Mountain

Daniel Johanson, Liberty

Adam Losey, Pine Creek

Kerry Peterson, Coronado

Marc Sandoval, Mitchell

Chantelle Szczech-Jones, Palmer

John C. Wiersch, Liberty

JUDGES

The Gazette coordinates the Best & Brightest program. However, judging is by admissions representatives from area universities, business and nonprofit leaders and community volunteers.

The judges for Class of 2001 were:

Matt Bonser, assistant director of admissions, Colorado College

Judie Bowers, manager of volunteer services, U.S. Olympic Complex

Pula Davis, webmaster, gazette.com

Felicia Drain, director assistant, Urban League Child Development Center

Chrys Fotenos, El Paso County Pioneers' Association Inc.

Judi Lakin, manager of communications and the annual fund, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region

Joanie Martinez, vice president, Western National Bank

Jaime McMullen-Garcia, recruitment coordinator, Department of Student Recruitment and Outreach, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs

Carol Shepherd, adviser, Regis University

Sharron Shogren, Department of Admissions, Pikes Peak Community College

Kim Silver, El Pomar Foundation

Sandy Taylor, Colorado Springs Assets for Youth and Girl Scouts - Wagon Wheel Council

Quana Williams, Department of Admissions, Air Force Academy

Judy Woolley, director, Army Community Services

PHOTO PICKUP

All photos submitted with application packets may be picked up at the front desk of The Gazette, 30 S. Prospect St., during business hours: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Photos will be held for pickup until June 2.

COVER: Marc Sandoval, Mitchell Class of 2001. This enthusiastic student never missed a day of school from kindergarten through high school graduation.

BEST & BRIGHTEST STAFF

Program creator: Jon Stepleton, The Gazette, vice president and associate publisher